Mapping Spiritual Innovation Working Paper

Jewish LearningWorks believes this is a critical time for Jewish education to return spirituality to the forefront of our work, honoring its place as a tool to help the next generation find meaning, create purpose, and embrace hope. Our new collection of teaching resources: Help educators move from “what we do” to “how we feel” and “what it means.” Draw from Jewish wisdom, prayer, meditation, music, nature, or storytelling to cultivate awe, wonder, gratitude, and purpose. Nurture personal and communal spiritual growth, helping learners connect Judaism to their lives and souls.

Powerful narratives around spiritual innovation: sanctuary is not a fixed sacred space but a living, relational process; "Post-activism" is spiritual awakening in action (through unlearning and shapeshifting, rather than adding more dogma); vision of "vulnerable spirituality" where grief and wounds are seen and used as spiritual portals; promoting new forms of eco-spirituality and cosmic kinship, as well as a shift from universality to particularity, locality, and ancestral wisdoms.

Dr. Asanee Brogan speaks of her own powerful spiritual journey and invites us to understand how rich ancestral wisdoms and indigenous African traditions can align with our spiritual needs today.